Harness for rapid hitching



No Model.)

D. G. SHERIDAN.-

HARNESS FOR RAPID HITGHING.

N0. '373,757. Patented Nov. 22, 1887;

n. PETERS. Fholfa-L'xfilmgnpher Washingtan. n. c.

NITED STATES ATENT @rrrcs.

DAVID G. SHERIDAN, OF BRIDGEPOET, CONNECTICUT.

HARNESS FOR RAPID HITCHING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.3'l3,757, dated November 22, 1887.

Application filed February 23, i887. Renewed October 29, N87. Serial No. 253.73l. (X0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID G. SHERIDAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harnesses for Rapid I-Iitching; and I do hereby declare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of harnesses especially adapted for rapid hitching-such, for example, as are used in connection with fire engines, hose carriages, patrol wagons, ambulances, police-vans, &c.-and has for its object to simplify and perfect the construction of the harness and means for suspending the same when not in use.

Figure l is a perspective of the bit-carrier, collar, reins, &c., for the left or near side horse in the suspended positionthat is, in position for instant adjustment upon the horse. Fig. 2 represents a horses head wit-h the halter ordinarily used. Fig. 3 is a similar View with the bit adjusted in the mouth; Fig. 4, a detail view,on an enlarged scale, illustrating the reinclamp upon the collar; Fig. 5, a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of the snap upon the halter which holds the bit-carrier in use; and- Fig. 6 is a detail view, also on an enlarged scale, illustrating the adjustable spring-clips connecting the bit to the carrier, whereby the bit is permitted to move in the mouth and may be adjusted to different lengths of heads.

1 denotes the halter, which may be of the ordinary or any preferred construction. In the present instance I have shown substantially the same halter as that illustrated in the patent to White and Sheridan, No. 290,826, dated December 25, 1883, this being the stablehalter ordinarily used. At the top of the halter-that is, upon the top of the horses head justback of the earsis a snap or catch, the purpose of which will presently be explained.

This catch consists of a base-plate, 2, which is firmly secured to the halter by riveting, or in any suitable manner.

3 is a standard projecting upward from the base, and 41- a catch substantially aright angle in form, which is pivoted at the outer end of the standard, the standard being.preferably curved over forward, leaving an opening, 5, to receive the bit-carrier, as will be more fully explained.

6 is a spring resting in socket '7 in the standard, the lower end of the spring being attached to the base of the socket and the upper end to the horizontal arm of the catch. The other arm of the catch hangs downward in substan tially a vertical position, completely closing and guarding the front of opening 5. It will be seen in Fig. 5 that the catch is pivoted in a recess at the upper end of the standard and that the horizontal arm of the catch rests upon the base of the recess, so that it is impossible for the catch to open outward and only to open inward against the power of spring 6.

8 denotes the bit-carrier, which is bow-shaped and made of metal. At the lower ends ofthe how are clips 9, which receive the rings 10 of the bit 11. Any style of bit may of course be used. The clips are made of two separate parts hinged together at the bottom, as at 12, and secured together by screws 13, the object of this construction being to enable the bit to be readily changed when desired.

In order that the bit may be readily placed in the mouth, I provide a springconnection, preferably constructed as follows: 14: denotes sockets in the clips, which receive the ends of the bow. At each end of the bow is a sleeve or collar, 15, and between this collar and the upper end of the socket isa spring, 16, coiled around the lower portion of the bow. Another sleeve or collar, 17, upon each side of the bow above the socket holds the parts in place. It will be seen that when it is desired to place the bit in the horses mouth the springs will yield readily and will then drawthe bit into place and holdit there. Should it be desired to adjust the bit-carrier to a longer or shorter head, it may be accomplished by moving collars 17 upward or downward on the ends of the bow. WVhen not in use, the hit-carrier is suspended upon a catch consisting, essentially, of a rest, 18, attached to a spring, 19, and a pin, 20, passing through a guard, 21, and bearing against the horizontal portion of the rest. The construction is such that the guard moves freely over the pin, the pin being stationary and the guard and rest carried by the spring. When it is desired to release the bit-carrier,it is simply necessary to draw down the rest until the bit-carrier will slip out under the pin.

22 denotes the reins, which engage the bitrings in the usual manner.

23 is a horse-collar which is provided with a ring, 24, adapted to engage a pin, 25, upon a pole or other suitable support, 26.

23 denotes terrets through which the reins pass; 27 ,the traces,which are attached directly to the collar; and 28, one of the pole-chains, which in the present instance acts to hold one side of the collar stationary.

29 denotes aclamp upon the collar for holding one of the reins, in the present instance the left or .near side rein, above the horse, so thatin rapid hitching there is no danger of the rein being carried to the other side, as when the collar is opened to let the horse pass under the clamp holds the rein above his head.

It will be seen that the operation of hitching is made practically instantaneous. Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the horse passes under the collar and under the left rein. The collar being simply suspended by a pin, the slightest forward movement displaces it, and it may then be clamped in position by a spi-ingcatch, 30, the details of which form no portion of my present invention. A slight downward pull upon the bit-carrier draws down the rest,so that the car rier readily passes out under the pin. The bits are inserted in the month and the carrier passedover the head and into opening 5 back of catch 4. As has already been explained, this catch cannot yield forward, but only backward, so that when the hit-carrier has been forced into the opening there is no possibility of its becoming detached in use, it being necessary to press the catch backward from the front against the power of spring 6 before the carrier can pass out. By providing a spring connection between the bit and the carrier rigidity of the bit is avoided and it is left free to move with the movements ofthe horses tongue, which is found to be avaluable feature in use, being a great relief to the mouth. It will of course be understood that the details of construction may be varied within reasonable limits without departing from the principle of my invention.

I claim 1. In a harness for rapid hitching, the combination, with a halter having a catch at the p top, of a bow-shaped bit-carrier, clips for the bit-rings having sockets 14, and springs in said sockets which form a yielding connection between the clips and carrier.

2. The combination, with a halter having a catch at the top, of a bit, a carrier therefor adapted to engage said catch, clips having sockets 14., and springs in said sockets,whereby the bit is connected to the carrier, but is left free to move in the horses mouth without danger of displacement.

3. The halter having a catch at the top and a bow-shaped bit-carrier adapted to engage said catch, in combination with a bit, clips which engage the rings of the bit and are provided with sockets 14, collars 15 and 17 on the bit-carrier, and a spring bearing against the lower collar and the top of the sockets, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination,with a bow-shaped carrier having collars 15 and adjustable collars 17, of .clips 9, each consisting of two parts hinged, as at 12,secured together by screws 13, and provided with a socket, l4, and spring 16, the ends of which bear against collar 15 and the top of the socket, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with a halter, the bit, clips, and bitcarrier, of a right-angled catch carried bya standard, 3, and a spring,6,whereby the catch is held in operative position.

6. The combination,with the bit, clips, carrier, halter having a catch atthe top,and reins, of a collar, 23, having turrets 23 for the reins, and a clamp, 29, whereby one rein is held up so that a horse can pass under it.

7. In a harness for rapid hitching, the combination, with the bit and carrier, of a rest, 18, and guard 21, carried by'a spring, and a pin which is engaged by the rest to hold the carrier when not in use.

8. The combination,with the bit, clips, and carrier, of ahalter carrying a standard, 3, having a socket, 7, a right-angled catch pivoted in said standard, one arm of which rests upon the bottom of the socket, and a spring, 6, acting to hold the catch to its position, but allowing it to yield when the carrier is pressed inward.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID G. SHERIDAN. Witnesses:

' A. M. WoosTER,

O. E. Beec es. 

